LESSON #1: THREE DIFFERENT REALITIES
There are three different realities which we as God's people can live in. The first reality is in God, the second reality is in Christ, and the third reality is in the Spirit. The existence of our being, the expression of our life, and the progression of our movement all depend on the reality which we live in. These three realities are actually the three levels of experiencing God.
LESSON #2: IN GOD
What is "In God" reality? It is the reality that we are from God. We have our being because we are created by God. Therefore, we live because of God and we move in God. We cannot go away from God. This reality was preached by the apostle Paul to the people of Athens when he stood in the midst of Areopagus. He said, "He (God) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’" (Acts 17:26-28)
LESSON #3: THE BASIC REALITY
The basic reality is there is God in heaven who created us and in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). We can choose to deny this reality by trying to convince ourselves that there is no God, and consequently, we are not created by God. What will happen to us if we choose to deny this reality? The apostle Paul wrote, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting." (Romans 1:28) Our mind will be debased and we will do things which are not fitting. In the end, it will result in the destruction of our lives.
LESSON #4: LOOKING AT GOD’S CREATION
We cannot escape from the reality that we are in God. Therefore, we should learn to fully acknowledge this basic reality. How? By being observant and honest with ourselves. We should carefully look at the nature around us and ask ourselves a question, "What does God want me to understand through these things which He created?" If our mind is open and we are honest with ourselves, we will understand some things about God and. It will help us live and move in Him. The apostle Paul wrote, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)
LESSON #5: IN CHRIST
What is "In Christ" reality? It is the reality that God in heaven has become Man on earth. About two thousand years ago, He dwelt and lived among us for thirty-three and a half years. Then, He died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day to save us from our sins. His name is Jesus Christ. This reality was preached by Simon Peter to the people of Israel on the day of Pentecost and when he was brought before the rulers, elders, and scribes of Israel. He said, "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it...Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 2:22-24; 4:12)
LESSON #6: THE LIVING REALITY
The "In Christ" reality is the living reality. What does it mean? It means that if we accept this reality, we will know and experience God in a living way because there is (eternal) life in this reality. In God, we live and move and have our being; while in Christ, we live eternally and move freely and have our new being. In Christ, God is no longer far from us in heaven but is near by our side on earth. In Christ, we are no longer an old and earthly creation of God but a new and heavenly creation of God. In Christ, God does not only look at our lives and movement but lives and moves together with us as well.
LESSON #7: LOOKING UNTO JESUS
The apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) "In Christ" is a newer reality than "In God". If we only live according to "In God" reality, then we are still of the old creation. The expression of our lives will come from our old man. However, if we live according to "In Christ" reality, then we are of the new creation. The expression of our lives will no longer come from our old man but from our new man. How do we move from "In God" reality into "In Christ" reality? We must always look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) In practice, we can do this by carefully looking at the life of Jesus as well as constantly hearing His words written in the gospels. The apostle Paul wrote, "So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)
LESSON #8: IN THE SPIRIT
What is "In the Spirit" reality? It is the reality that Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended to the right hand of God, made Lord and Christ, and poured out the Holy Spirit upon us. This reality was preached by Simon Peter to the people of Israel on the day of Pentecost, "Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear." (Acts 2:30-33)
LESSON #9: THE ULTIMATE REALITY
The "In the Spirit" reality is the ultimate reality. What does it mean? It means that if we live according to this reality, we will fulfill God's eternal purpose and experience His fullness. We will be filled with the Holy Spirit and we will be transformed into the same image of Jesus Christ. In Christ, God is with us; while in the Spirit, God is in us. In Christ, we have life; while in the Spirit, we have abundant life. In Christ, we are made righteous; while in the Spirit, we are made holy. In Christ, we have a new way of living our earthly lives; while in the Spirit, we have a heavenly life on earth.
LESSON #10: FROM BEING MADE ALIVE TO REIGN IN LIFE
The apostle Paul wrote, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-6) “In the Spirit” is actually “in Christ”. Both are related to Jesus. The difference is, “In Christ” is related to His resurrection while “In the Spirit” is related to His exaltation. In this context, “In the Spirit” is a higher reality than “In Christ”. In Christ, we who were dead are made alive; while in the Spirit, we who are alive are made to reign in life.
LESSON #11: SEEKING THE THINGS ABOVE
